Those who work in schools ....

[THATbasicSNOWFLAKE]

How would you feel about full reopening from 8th March with conditions as before?

Are your unions starting to look at what can be done?

If you submitted a section 44 letter last time would you do so again?

[quote mumsneedwine]@RedToothBrush rotas are very doable. We have plans ready to go. But government say no. [/quote]
No. Not possible.

Too many keyworker kids. Not enough space nor staff.

DS School has looked at it. It was not viable.

R*edToothBrush
*
We're only doing 50% live anyway, so I would expect independent tasks rather than live lessons on the week out of school.

It wouldn't be anymore work than we were doing sept-dec with setting work for isolators as well.

We have a two week lesson system already, split each year down the middle, do week one twice, set independent work for pupils on the week out, do week two twice, independent work for the pupils on the week out.

Keyworker/vulnerable in all the time spend their week 'out' as they do now, in the IT rooms (three at the moment, but could drop back to two if half were in normal lessons at any one time), supervised by staff with free periods on their timetable.

Might not work out as exactly 50% in each classroom, especially for options, but would reduce corridor congestion nonetheless.

Also easy to scale up to some year groups in full time (though they might have an odd timetable until the rest come back)

Obviously, not all schools are the same, so other schools might not be able to do the same, but this would work where I am.

We also had detailed plans to scale the 1 day a week pod system from last June to all year groups, which would still be better than all out, and we could remote teach apart from those days, as teachers were pod specific as well.

@RedToothBrush we not only looked at it but drew up plans last August. We are a large secondary so probably easier than for a small primary. We could start next Monday if they'd let us. Would mean all exam years in every day and KS3 in either 2 or 3 days a week. Lots of SD, no class bigger than 15. It would work. But we are not allowed. No idea why not.

[quote mumsneedwine]@RedToothBrush we not only looked at it but drew up plans last August. We are a large secondary so probably easier than for a small primary. We could start next Monday if they'd let us. Would mean all exam years in every day and KS3 in either 2 or 3 days a week. Lots of SD, no class bigger than 15. It would work. But we are not allowed. No idea why not. [/quote]
Fair enough for high school. Just not practical at all for primary. Our head is brilliant and gone above and beyond and did all sorts of potential planning and this one of two thinigs she just couldn't make work (the other was smaller classes including some off school premises using other facilities).

It would be possible for some primaries. We only have 10% of children in, we could make it work.

I’ve no idea how we’d make it work in my primary, but I’d love to hear suggestions of how it could work. When you’re already working on a two week timetable with secondary age pupils, with low numbers of KWV children because they’re old enough to be at home alone, of course it’s going to be significantly easier than in a primary.

Unless every school can manage it, it wouldn’t be fair to impose a postcode lottery where some children get time in school and some don’t.

I can see so many potential problems if they tried to make our primary school have the children in on rota, and we wouldn’t be able to do it if the KWV children were still in full time and in a bubble of their own. If they don’t stay in their own bubble, then it would be pointless having the rest of them on rota.

@NailsNeedDoing we have 182 KW/vulnerable students in currently. So not tiny numbers.

Fair enough @mumsneedwine, I stand corrected. How much is that as a percentage of your school, just out of interest?

Around here the secondaries seem to have very low numbers of children in.

@NailsNeedDoing it's just under 10%. KS3 it's a mix of KW and vulnerable but for KS4 & 5 it's nearly all vulnerable (and kids who were not engaging online).

My daughter is a teacher. She’s worked throughout and has a fair few kids in her class at the moment. She’s desperate to get back properly with all the kids in. Most of her colleagues feel the same.

@Pinkmarsh I'm assuming your DD is not over 50 with heart issues ?

And we've all worked throughout. I'm in school today with KW kids. I'm not being paid - that's what teachers do.

To be honest, mumneedswine I don't think that is what most teachers are doing. Certainly not this week.

I know of very, very few secondary school teachers who aren't either working from home or working from their classroom without children in them. And those that are certainly aren't vulnerable. And they're not doing it over half term.

I'm mostly primary (plus year 7 and 8) and we're not even open this week. I don't know any school round here that is.

Is it half term where you are? If so, it sounds like you are being properly shafted to me. If you had to be open, why can't younger, healthier staff volunteer? The school can't possibly need everyone to volunteer for just one week.

Said this before lower down the thread. If the government and parents really want schools to reopen, they should shut all schools to everyone except genuine key worker families with no parent working from home just for 3 weeks. This would allow rotas Meaning that every kid could have some time in school and staff and children will be as safe as possible. Take stock over Easter and hopefully open fully thereafter.

@keiratwiceknightly
I agree. The keyworker situation could be tightened up considerably, and rotas could definitely work.
I think 1/2 in Monday and Tuesday - clean and ppa Wednesday then other half in on Thursday and Friday.
2 days of intensive teaching with follow up consolidation work to do at home.

@keiratwiceknightly I totally agree. If KW provision was tougher it would give other children the opportunity for some school time. We have alot in that don't have to be in.

Yes, def agree with the KW thing. Not because I don't want the children in but because it's not fair on those who have to be at home to end up being at home longer due to ineffective 'closure'

The head at my school made parents apply in writing demonstrating that they were both key workers (or single parent) and had no other option for childcare. It was really harsh but it worked. SENCO was really strict on the vulnerable requirement too. Result is we only have 15% in on the busiest day.

@mumsneedwine

And we've all worked throughout. I'm in school today with KW kids. I'm not being paid - that's what teachers do.

Well, you shouldnt. Thats shocking. Why would you work for free? Improve your boundaries. If they need you to work they can pay you.

Unison plan for reopening schools is here

@mumsneedwine

And we've all worked throughout. I'm in school today with KW kids. I'm not being paid - that's what teachers do.

Two questions is it not half term and why no pay?

Ours was very different from year to year. We are two form entry and our year 2 bubble was 23 which is nearly 50% but other year groups had less than 10. I have been in on the rota and the workload has been more than usual but like many others I have just got on with it.

I am CV and have been in throughout. I completed a risk assessment and made that choice for my mental health. I do want my class back now but that is because I am in a school that has the safety of everyone as a priority during this time. Things are different in different schools as there was no real national guidance this time. Hopefully if that happens now we will have more consistency of approach.

I assume @mumsneedwine your school has opened for kw children over half term.

Beyond grateful that mine didn't. We did in the Easter hols and may half term last time. I personally did 6 days. We were told at the time ' of course it won't be for free ' but it was. I think I would have felt very pissed off if asked to do it again!

viciouslybashed in the first lockdown, schools stayed open in the Easter holidays and May half term to provide childcare for children on critical workers. This was staffed by volunteers so was unpaid but nobody was made to do it (at least they weren't where I work). It was only those of us who wanted to.

I think mumneedswine must be in that position now. I think it must be quite rare though. I don't know of any schools that are open this holiday. I thought that stopped in May. And schools that are open definitely shouldn't be accepting help from older, vulnerable teachers. I think she's being treated very badly and don't think it's common.

Heads should be given the autonomy to make these decisions. As is very evident from this thread, different solutions work for different communities and different schools. Some probably could open fully, others need a rota system to be safe. And what that rota looks like depends on the school building, pupil numbers, parents’ jobs etc.

A rota would work really well for our secondary- all students get some face to face learning and the work for the the next lessons can be set all at the same time. Or prioritise year 10 and 11. I’m just dreading lockdown 4 in May/June if we just open up to all years straight away.